Why I love my vehicle: Toyota’s Tacoma 4×4 Double Cab 6A with TRD Sport

INTRO: A lot has changed since Roger Morin purchased his first Toyota Tacoma in 2006. Once a jet-setting model and host of an HGTV home renovation show, “Reno, Set, Go!,” Morin has since traded in the lights and cameras of a TV production for the simpler life as a Mississauga-based construction contractor. Yet, Morin is still living in the fast lane. Since the pandemic sent Canada’s real estate market into overdrive, requests for his home renovation services have gone through the roof. To cope with high demand across the city, the self-employed specialist needed a set of wheels as reliable as his workmanship. Morin tells us why he loves his 2021 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 Double Cab 6A with TRD Sport.

FIRST PERSON: “I’ve been driving a Tacoma for 15 years,” said Morin, who leased his new truck from Meadowvale Toyota in December. “I’ve had two Tacomas before this, one for 10 years and another for five, and in those 15 years I spent less than $2,000 in repairs. That’s it. They just don’t break down, that’s why I keep going with them.

“In this case I had planned on buying out my last truck, a 2016, after the lease was up but the dealership was willing to just swap me a brand-new truck, so I thought, why not? The big difference between the two versions is that this new Tacoma is a double cab rather than an access cab. I really like that because there’s a lot more space and I can fit my tools back there. Plus, even though it has a double cab, it still has a six-foot-long box, and most trucks don’t have that.

“It also has a cargo lamp which is great because at night it illuminates the bed. I drive constantly for work and it’s helpful that this one’s got a smoother ride than the off-road version I had before because it doesn’t have the stiffer suspension. It’s also got some nice, up-to-date luxuries inside like the standard Driver Assist package.

“Tacomas just have a solid reputation for being really well-built and for having a really high resale value,” said Morin. “Just keep in mind that I’ve been driving a Tacoma for 15 years and it’s never once not started. Even with the previous key fob I had, I didn’t change the battery once in 10 years and probably clicked it 30 times a day to get in and out of the truck for work. How crazy is that?”

A closer look at the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 Double Cab 6A with TRD Sport:

Usable space

The Toyota Tacoma looks great from the front, but some of its most impressive features can be found in the rear. The double cab model features a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat backs and fold out seat cushions, along with under-seat storage to maximize the truck’s interior back space. Further, the truck bed boasts a cab-mounted brake light with an integrated bed lamp as well as a 400-watt (120V) cargo bed power outlet for drivers on the job.

Safety features

Toyota Tacoma drivers can depend on the truck’s sturdy build as much as they can its award-winning safety offerings. All 2021 models come standard with the Toyota Safety Sense package, a suite of enhanced active-safety technologies and capabilities designed to protect and support the driver’s awareness and decision-making. Its features include Toyota’s Lane Departure Alert Pre-Collision System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Automatic High Beams

Wear and tear

For drivers like Morin, leasing a truck for labour-intensive, all-season work means the vehicle is likely to get scuffed. Tacoma leasers need not worry, as they have access to Toyota’s Wear Pass, a plan that ensures drivers do not face extra charges at lease-end by protecting against damage beyond what is considered normal and everyday use. This means the odd door ding, windshield chip, or rim scuff need not cause worry, allowing drivers to focus on getting the job done.

The Specs

Body style: Double Cab Truck

Drive method: 4WD

Engine: Direct Injection 3.5 Litre DOHC V6 w/VVT-i

Fuel economy (city/highway): 13.0/10.5

Cargo bed length: 1872 mm (73.7 inches)

Price: From $39,350 (plus $5,080 for TRD Sport)

Website: Toyota.ca